Carry-on on Frontier Airlines

[bsee]

I suspect there will be tools at the family homestead when he gets there, Bill.  
 
I appreciate that some airlines do have a we will allow guitars of any size if they fit in the overhead rule, but I'm not sure your experiment will provide you the information you describe.  Since so much is left up to the discretion of the gate and flight crews, I wouldn't bet on one or two experiences providing a picture of what will always happen going forward.  On top of that, how full the flight is can alter the picture.
 
Finally, I'm not sure what you're planning to do with the strings or any internal wrapping, but you might want to put a thin foam or bubble wrap on the neck and body inside the bag.  I wouldn't want the neck, body and strings moving separately inside the bag to create scratches or worse.

[juggernaught]

Bob: what I can do is provide any factors/variables that I find important at the time: airline, airport, mood of the staff, fullness of flight, time, etc.
 
thanks on the bubble wrap idea.  I will certainly do something like that.
 
-devon

[jacko]

Marginally 'on topic'. While I was waiting for some glue to dry yesterday I caught 10 minutes of 'Airline US' on the box. in the scene I saw, a lady traveller was deemed by the check in staff to have had 1 too many to drink so she was told she couldn't fly that day. At this point she became very abusive and ended up getting herself arrested (for swearing at the check in girl) and spent the night in a cell. Just goes to prove the comments above regarding the powers of any member of airport staff.  
 
Graeme.

[pauldo]

I think Uncle Carl hit it on the head respect - it is a rare commodity in today's world.  
 
Respect here (this group), respect at the airport, respect on the roads,,, everywhere - we need more of it.
 
F.Y.I. Uncle Carl - tolerant, understanding, respectful, and forgiving kinda describes what a good bassist is!!! ;-)

[Bradley Young]

Bill,
 
While screwdrivers used to be banned (and the liquid variety still are, if they are over 100mL ), they are now allowed by the TSA, provided they are less than 7 inches in length.
 
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
 
The airline does not check your bags (but can!), so as long as you're not carrying in the open, you should be good to go once you make it through TSA.
 
Bradley

[juggernaught]

Well, didn't get to try the experiment... the bag wasn't going to fold in the event of having to do so...
 
I did get to go to planetbass and try some sweet basses though.  The MKs were probably the best looking basses I'm ever seen: the layers on the cocobolo one were amazing and the spalted maple topped one was just beautiful.  Both sounded superb.  The fretless massacar ebony essence was probably the best sounding fretless I've ever played.
 
Also got to try out a Fodera emperor deluxe (my first Fodera).  Very impressive.

[poor_nigel]

What a great posting!  Better than the news or some soap opera.  I believe the intensity of those posting will drive the information listed much deeper into those who read it than bland listings at the airlines and TSA sites.  I did enjoy reading this thread.  
 
BTW:  I use flight cases exclusively, as my basses are worth the added hassle of their weight and bulk to me.  To each their own.  Flying has changed soooo much in the last decade that I refuse to fly any more.  Moo!
 
Side Note:  don't forget to lock the latches
I am sure Keith means to make sure the latches are closed.  However, if your latches do have locks on them, do not lock them, unless TSA has pre-checked the case and sealed it.  TSA has the right to do so, and they will, take a crow bar and open your case for inspection.  No flight case is TSA proof, if TSA wants to open it . . .

[keith_h]

Thomas,
My comment about locking was in regards to the gate check. At that point you have been through TSA checks and the bag goes straight down to the luggage hold. Of course you could just put some strapping tape over the latches without locking them to be sure they don't accidentally pop open.  
 
Keith

[lbpesq]

I just got back from Key West where I went for a week to attend the NORML Legal Seminar.  Having got my (new to me) '53 D-28 back from the luthier the day before Thanksgiving (after being there for 25 months), I really didn't want to leave it at home, so I brought it with me.  No problem carrying it through security to the gate.  (I had it in a Calton Deluxe case, so no worries if it had to go underneath).  Once on the plane to Miami (767) I discovered it wouldn't fit in the overhead.  A flight attendant took it from me and put it in a closet in the 1st class area.  I picked it up from there at the end of the flight.  Coming back I was also allowed to carry it on where it fit easily in the overhead on a 757.  No problems either way.  I go and spend a small fortune on the Calton case and it turns out I could have used a mere gig bag!  (Of course, if I had tried a gig bag, they undoubtedly would have made me check it - Murphy's Law).
 
Bill, tgo

[jack]

I'm late to a long and interesting thread here, but just in to say what Bill said- 1st class coat rack.  Works everytime for me (that's about twice, btw), for basses in hard cases, and longish fishing rods.  It is always, of course, a crap shoot.  Gotta convince the stewardess you're a rock star.

[pauldo]

Bill!
How did the NORML seminar pan out?
My understanding is that the federal government is starting to let state legislation handle the 'medicinal' use laws and not getting involved as much anymore.
 
A 1953 Martin D-28! Bet she's a beaut and probably sings like tomorrow will never come. Got any pics?

[lbpesq]

Paul:
 
Key West was, as always, a blast.  Classes from 9-2, then free time, playing music, eating, and having a great time!  
 
As for the feds and medical cannabis, I'll believe it when I see it.  Obama called for decrim a few years ago.  That changed when he ran for president.  Early in the campaign, speaking in front of college students, he said that he would have the DEA leave medical cannabis alone in states where it has been legalized.  In the latter part of the campaign he seemed to shy away from that position.  Now he is appointing longtime drug warriors to key positions.  I'm not encouraged, to say the least.
 
The Martin, on the other hand, is pure joy!  When I found it in the summer of 2006, it was quite beat up.  Cracks in the top, no pickguard, loose braces, a PLYWOOD!!!! bridgeplate, etc.  We had to take the back off, replace the bridgeplate, stabilize the cracks, reglue braces, then replaced the bridge and fingerboard and refinished the back and sides.  It was well worth it as this guitar has the straightest, narrow grained Brazilian rosewood you can imagine.  It sounded great even when it was beat up.  25 months later, and I'm in love!  What a beautiful tone.  I didn't think about posting pics as I'd expect only minimal interest in acoustic guitars around these parts, but maybe I'll take some this weekend.
 
Bill, tgo

[jet_powers]

Pictures of that Martin, please! A guitar is a guitar, isn't it? Especially one that's been given a new lease on life....
 
-JP

[cozmik_cowboy]

I second JP on the pictures, Bill - the first guy I worked sound for full-time had a '53 D-28, and, while my taste generally runs more to 000s than dreadnaughts, I'd take one of those in a heartbeat - it was one of the amazingly drool-worthy guitars I've ever come across.  
 
Peter

[lbpesq]

O.K.  I'll take some pics this weekend and post them in the miscellaneous section.
 
Bill, tgo